Everton

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

One positive on a difficult deadline day for Everton was the loan signing of Jack Grealish for a second successive season from Manchester City.

Grealish proved to be a popular addition to the Everton squad in 2025-26 before a stress fracture to his foot ended his campaign after a 1-0 win at Aston Villa in January.

While Everton's goal output was broadly the same with and without Grealish, their win percentage and points-per-game tallies were both significantly higher with the 30-year-old in the side.

Despite missing four months of the season, only James Garner (7) provided more assists than Grealish's six for the club, while Grealish ranked top for fouls won (58) and touches in the opposition box (105).

The England international's creative numbers also compare favourably to Iliman Ndiaye, who has departed Everton for Manchester City.

Grealish created eight more chances, won 21 more fouls and provided three more assists in the Premier League despite playing 12 fewer games than the Senegal international.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton fan group The 1878s, which organises pre-match flag and banner displays at Hill Dickinson Stadium, has issued another strong statement following a dramatic end to the club's summer transfer window.

Iliman Ndiaye, Beto, Nathan Patterson and Tim Iroegbunam headed for the exit door on deadline day, despite David Moyes insisting Everton "are not in a hurry to sell our best players" just five days ago.

While striker Folarin Balogun's transfer from Monaco collapsed, Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were the only players to arrive.

"We stated on Sunday that we do not feel that our fanbase's ambitions and the club's ambitions align right now," read a statement issued by The 1878s on Wednesday, external. "What happened yesterday has proven that even more.

"To be clear, this is nothing against the signings we have made. We welcome them to the club and wish them the best of luck here.

"However, like the rest of our fanbase, we are utterly disappointed and disgusted with how this transfer window has gone, especially the end of it."

At the weekend, Everton called off homegrown talent Harrison Armstrong's move to Nottingham Forest after a fan backlash.

"Supporters aren't always wrong," Moyes had said the day before. "If I could say something to them, I would say their manager is an Evertonian."

Everton Fans' Forum has also issued a strong statement, external, which reads: "We were told there was a clear strategy. We were told the recruitment structure had changed. We were told lessons had been learned.

"We are demanding competence, preparation and accountability. The decision to allow players to leave without having suitable replacements secured has left the squad looking dangerous short in key areas."

How are you feeling about the deadline day deals and the transfer window as a whole? What would you have changed about Everton's approach?

Get in touch with your views here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

As timelines go, turbulent doesn't really do justice to the final days of Everton's transfer window.

First, Everton CEO Angus Kinnear declared in an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside on 18 August that the club were in a stable financial position heading towards the end of the transfer window.

Two weeks later, and with just two days of the transfer window remaining, the club accepted a £40m bid from Nottingham Forest for highly rated academy graduate Harrison Armstrong, a move that collapsed following fan backlash.

The chaotic approach continued long into deadline day.

Right-back Nathan Patterson, midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, striker Beto and star winger Iliman Ndiaye were all allowed to leave the club.

While Patterson and Ndiaye were replaced by Lyon defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish respectively, a £40m deal for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun collapsed.

The USA international walked away at the 11th hour despite a deal sheet being submitted amid last-gasp interest in Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham.

The net result is that a squad that manager David Moyes desperately wanted strengthening heads into the third game of the season at home to the Red Devils with one striker, one right-back and one left-back.

Kinnear had spoken of a two-year recruitment plan following the takeover by the Friedkin Group in December 2024.

Everton have brought in some promising younger players but their net spend in this window stands at £25.35m of profit.

They end it in an arguably weaker position than when it opened nine weeks ago.

Image source, Getty Images

"The memories we created together will stay with me forever," wrote Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye after securing a £65m deadline day move to Manchester City.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Toffees on a five-year contract in July 2024, made 74 appearances - scoring 17 goals and contributing four assists - during his time on Merseyside.

Ndiaye had held talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal earlier this summer; meanwhile Tottenham had agreed terms on a deal and were waiting on Richarlison's exit when Manchester City swooped in with a late offer.

The Senegal international has since posted a parting message, external on X: "Everton, thank you so much.

"I arrived here two years ago with a real desire to fight straight away for this club that had put its trust in me. I always gave my all on the pitch, because that is what this club demands and above all because you fans push us to do so.

"I loved every moment here, on and off the pitch.

"Thank you firstly to everyone at the club who works every day to make our lives as easy and enjoyable as possible. Thank you to my managers and the coaching staff who always pushed me to keep my standards high.

"And to all of the players I shared this journey with, thank you. The memories we created together will stay with me forever.

"And finally, thank you most of all to the fans - for your support, your passion and all of the love you gave me during these two seasons. I hope I was able to give some of it back to you.

"To have shared two such special moments with you; scoring the final goal at Goodison Park and the first goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium is something I will always carry with me. I'm incredibly proud to have been part of those moments.

"You will always be in my heart."

Everton were interested in signing Monaco full-back Jordan Teze, 26, but the Ligue 1 club's management vetoed the Netherlands international's exit. (Nice-Matin - in French), external

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Everton have done the following business on transfer deadline day:

• Beto joined Serie A side Fiorentina on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

• Right-back Nathan Patterson signed for Serie A club Torino in a permanent deal.

• Winger Iliman Ndiaye joined Manchester City on a permanent deal worth £65m.

• Midfielder Tim Iroegbunam has left the club on a permanent deal to Hull City.

• England midfielder Jack Grealish has rejoined Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

• Everton signed Lyon right-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles for an undisclosed fee.

• Milton Keynes Dons completed the signing of defender Elijah Campbell from the Toffees.

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What do you think of the Toffees' business in the transfer window? Let us know here

Folarin Balogun walks away from a deal at Everton.

I understand he had a medical which showed up some issues. Everton worked hard to keep deal alive and renegotiate terms with Monaco.

Both sides were happy and the deal was signed by clubs and player but Balogun then walked.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

Folarin Balogun's move to Everton is off after the player decided against proceeding with the transfer.

Everton sought to renegotiate the original £40m fee they agreed to pay Monaco after issues cropped up with the USA striker's medical.

But Balogun, it is understood, has decided against going ahead with the move.

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Grealish says "it feels so good" to rejoin Everton on loan and "can't wait" to see the supporters again on Sunday for the match against Manchester United.

The 30-year-old forward spent last season on loan with the Toffees, before a foot injury in February ended his campaign.

"It feels so good. I'm so happy," said Grealish. "I think I'm at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved.

"That's what the manager has given me, what my teammates have given me and especially what the fans have given me.

"Every time I see an Everton fan, it's just pure love and the way they've welcomed me since that first game against Leeds, I'll never forget that. It means a lot to me and hopefully I've made a few Everton fans happy.

"I had a perfect time here for the first six months, then I stayed around after I got injured. I've been watching all the Everton games in pre-season and since the season started.

"Now I feel ready to go. I'm ready to start training tomorrow and prepare for the games.

"I will be going to sleep tonight with a smile on my face, ready for training tomorrow. I can't wait to be back at Hill Dickinson on Sunday."

I am told despite the late interest from Everton, Joshua Zirkzee will remain at Manchester United.

I am not entirely clear what the issue was but the Netherlands forward will stay with the Old Trafford outfit.

Image source, Getty Images

Beto has completed a permanent move to Serie A side Fiorentina for a fee of 17m Euros (£14.6m).

The 28-year-old striker, who signed for Everton in August 2023, made 113 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees, scoring 25 goals.

Beto memorably opened the scoring in the last-ever men's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in February 2025 which went on to finish 2-2.

In a statement, the club said: "Everyone connected with Everton thanks Beto for his dedication, commitment and service throughout his time at the club and wishes him all the best for the next chapter of his career in Italy."

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have agreed a £3m deal to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles from French side Lyon.

The 29-year-old former Arsenal player has won five caps for England and can operate as a full-back or in midfield.

For the second summer running, Everton were also seemingly in the running to sign Dutch full-back Kenny Tete, 30, from Fulham.

However, it appears his proposed £9.4m move had been dependent upon the Cottagers finding a suitable replacement.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have agreed a £40m deal to sign USA international Folarin Balogun from Monaco, with a medical set to take place on Tuesday.

So what type of player will the Blues be signing and how does he compare with Thierno Barry, the Toffees' current first-choice striker?

A one-time Arsenal academy graduate, Balogun joined Monaco from the Gunners for £35m in 2023, going on to score 31 goals in 91 appearances for the Ligue 1 club.

He missed four months of the 2024-25 campaign due to injury but after returning to fitness in April he enjoyed the most prolific season of his career to date in 2025-26, scoring 19 goals in 43 games, including five in the Champions League.

Whereas Barry is more of a target man adept at winning balls in the air, Balogun boasts greater pace and a game built around making runs behind opposition defences.

At the World Cup earlier this summer, the 25-year-old averaged eight runs in behind per game, ranking him third of all strikers, and scored three goals.

His goals-per-minute ratio was almost identical to that of Beto, who is leaving Everton for Fiorentina in a £15m deal, in league football last season.

But Balogun's younger age and Champions League experience suggest his ceiling could be comparatively higher.

His tally of 19 goals last season is at least seven more than either Beto or Barry have managed in a campaign with a club in an elite European league.

"I feel really sorry for homegrown English players at the moment," said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock in the wake of Everton calling off Harrison Armstrong's move to Nottingham Forest.

The Reds made a bid of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the 19-year-old, who signed his first professional contract with the Toffees in July 2024.

"Ideally, if you're lucky, you go to the academy of the team you support as a young player," Warnock explained on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "That club then becomes the team you want to play for.

"However, your club will take one look at you and decide there is value in you at the moment because there is full profit in doing a deal.

"When you look at the Harrison Armstrong situation, do you really think he wanted to leave Everton after just breaking into the first team? He even went out on loan to Preston North End and worked hard to get this opportunity.

"He would have got a call to say: 'By the way, we have accepted a bid for you.' It wouldn't have been a case of him being asked: 'Would you like to go there?'

"I just don't understand why the club accepted that bid for a homegrown player. It is astronomical money - don't get me wrong - but we need to re-evaluate what's going on with our homegrown talents.

"Having a Scouser in the team is huge for the fans and huge for the academy. You want to draw other players in by showing that you progress your homegrown players into the first team.

"At the minute, clubs are showing that they progress their homegrown players to sell them - and that's an issue."

Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds